Cong dissenters’ letter outlines 11-point agenda for party reforms

NEWDELHI:: Uncertainty over leadership has weakened the Congress and demoralised its workers, the controversial letter written by 23 leaders to party president Sonia Gandhi on August 7 said, warning the high command of erosion in its support base with the desertion of functionaries across states.

The letter, snatches of which were first reported onsunday, outlined an 11-point agenda to usher in reforms in the 134-year-old organisation, called for an introspection of the reasons behind the party’s “steady decline”, and appealed to the Congress to take the initiative for the formation of a “national coalition of democratic and secular forces” against the Centre’s ruling BJP.

“Even after 14 months of the 2019 electoral verdict, the Congress Party has not undertaken any honest introspection to analyse the reasons for its continued decline,” said the letter, whose full text was published by Ndtvonits website on Thursday evening.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest decision-making body, was not guiding the organisation effectively in building public opinion against the BJP, according to the letter. The “institutional process of merit-based and consensusbacked” selection had been disrupted, it added.

The letter, considered critical of the high command, sparked a heated discussion at a Cwcmeeting on Monday with Congress leaders mounting an offensive on the signatories. Just four of the 23

Full-time leadership; available

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at All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC)

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PCCS, district committees should be inclusive

District Congress Committee 3

(DCC) chiefs should be appointed from state capital by incharge general secy in coordination with PCC presidents

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Urgent constitution of Central Parliamentary Board

A nationwide membership drive

signatories are part of the 52-member CWC.

After a seven-hour, high-decibel debate at the Cwcmeeting, the party authorised Sonia Gandhi to effect any necessary organisation changes, and reaffirmed its faith in her and her son Rahul Gandhi.

Onaugust10,2019, Cwcnamed Sonia Gandhi the party’s interim chief after Rahul Gandhi, whopreceded her as the Congress president, turned down calls to withdrawhis resignation in the wakeof the 2019 Lok Sabha election rout.

“We have witnessed a steady decline of the Congress Party reflected in successive electoral verdicts in States and General Elections in 2014 and 2019. Reasons are manifold and need to be immediately identified. Otherwise, the Congress Party will find itself marginalized, both in the States, which

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Transparent elections for block, PCC, AICC members

Election of CWC members in accordance with Cong constitution

Reconstitution of Central Election Committee

Screening committee for

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empanelling Parliament, assembly candidates should have experienced leaders

An independent election authority be formed

Focus on ‘Institutional leadership mechanism’ to guide revival is already apparent, as well as at the national level,” the letter said. “The uncertainty over the leadership and the drift has demoralised the Congress workers and further weakened the Party...,” it added.

At the same time, the letterwriters acknowledged the role of the Nehru-gandhi family to make the Congress a formidable force in Indian politics.

“We acknowledge the resolute struggle, the visionary leadership and notable contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. His enduring legacy will always remain a source of guidance and inspiration for the Congress party. The Nehru-gandhi family will always remain an integral part of the collective leadership of the Congress party,” the letter said, while also appreciating the leadership of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. been circulated, then all those present (at the CWC meeting) would’ve realised that it (the letter) is about strengthening and reviving the Congress. One of those present even used the expression ‘traitor’. I wish those present had reprimanded him. There was not one uncivilised comment made in the communic a t i o n. I a m a ppal l e d t hat expressions l i ke t hese are allowed within the highest forum,” Sibal added.

Sibal said the party constitution calls for certain structures in the party that need to be re-established. “I have some knowledge of the party and its constitution and the constitution provides for several structures which need to be put in place, which are not in place. The intent and language of the letter dealt with the structures not being in place,” he said.

The senior advocate expressed disappointment that Jitin Prasada was targeted on Wednesday by a Congress district committee in Uttar Pradesh that wanted action taken against him for signing the letter.

“It is either an attack by sycophants or directed to demoralise those whose conscience has made them speak. It is a matter of grave concern that there are audios and videos which prove that Prasada was targeted at the behest of someone higher up in the hierarchy,” he said, without elaborating further.

Asked if he, too, fears being targeted, Sibal said: “We have no fears. We are Congressmen at heart and we will remain Congressmen without fear.”

Sibal — he had protested on Monday after incorrect media reports said that Rahul Gandhi had suggested that the letterwriters were in collusion with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and then withdrawn his tweet when Rahul Gandhi told him the words attributed to him were wrong — said: “I and the BJP are North Pole and South Pole. We are wedded to the Congress i deology and bitterly oppose the current dispensation (at the Centre).”

The party, which at the CWC asked Sonia Gandhi to continue as interim president, is expected to hold an All-india Congress Committee s e s s i o n in six months to elect a new chief.

In an interview to ANI on Thursday, Azad stressed on electing, rather than appointing, the next Congress president.

Asked what his position will be going forward, Sibal said: “We are soldiers of the party and some of us are seasoned enough to know what needs to be done. We hope that we will be heard.”

Shah, said decisions by some states under the Disaster Management Act will prevail over the deadline set by UGC since t he l egislation “empowers states to take measures for prevention and mitigation of disaster”.

The Disaster Management Act has been enforced across the country in the wake of the pandemic. The Union home ministry frames rules for relaxations and restrictions on businesses and activities under this Act.

“...the action taken by the authorities under the DM Act have been given overriding effect to achieve the purpose and object of the Act,” the court said.

“No state shall permit health of its subject to be compromised that is why overriding power has been given to the State Disaster Management Authority and the State Government with regard to any inconsistency with any other law for the time being in force,” the court said.

But that did not mean states could go to the extent of promoting final-year students on the basis of previous performances and internal assessment while not holding final year exams, the three-judge bench said. “The prayer to quash the guidelines dated July 6, 2020 issued by UGC is refused,” their judgment read.

Maharashtra higher and technical education minister Uday Samant said his government respected the verdict and will decide about holding examinations after consultations with vice-chancellors of universities.

“We will study the verdict in detail and then take appropriate actions,” he said. “We need to give priority to students’ health as well. In the current situation, students should not catch any i nfection i f exams are conducted,” he added.

UGC’S July 6 order on holding final-term exams across about 900 universities in the country triggered a storm with a section of st udents demanding t he scrapping of examinations in view of the pandemic. In the top court, multiple petitioners also argued that online exams will not be feasible for many who do not have access to high-speed internet. Petitioners urged the court to declare results based on students’ past performance or internal assessment.

But UGC argued that degrees cannot be conferred without examinations; that it alone was empowered to take a call on whether or not the exams can take place or should be cancelled; that the decision to conduct exams was in the interest of a large number of students; and that not holding the exams will badly impact the academic future of students.

Schools and colleges have been c l o s e d i n I ndi a s i nce March-end. However, the Union government has allowed colleges and universities to open for the conduct of final-year examinations.

The higher education regulator first published guidelines on April 29 for holding exams in the time of Covid-19. The guidelines — based on a report by an expert c o mmit t e e h e a d e d b y RC Kuhad, the chairperson of the Central University of Haryana —mandated the exams be held by July.

In June, UGC requested the expert committee to revisit the guidelines in view of the evolving pandemic situation. Finally, the fresh guidelines were issued on July 6.

Students in the case were represented by top lawyers such as Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Shyam Divan. Additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju put forth the case of the Centre while senior advocate PS Narasimha supported the Centre by representing a bunch of students in favour of holding the examinations.